Wednesday, October 11th, 2023

Dear Friend, 

At today's Board of Supervisor's meeting, I was proud to support the Proclamation for Fire Prevention Week, which is October 8-14. This year’s Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW™) campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention™,” works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe when cooking. Our Franconia Volunteer Fire Department is hosting an event on Saturday, October 14th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. focused on cooking safety, which you can read about in the contents below.

I wanted to make sure you are up to date with the Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink. The next meeting of the full Task Force will be held on Monday, November 6, at 7:00 p.m. in Conference Room 11 at the Fairfax County Government Center. Recordings of previous meetings, meeting materials, minutes, and a full list of upcoming meetings of both the Task Force and subcommittees can be found on the Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink webpage.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my office. 

Email: Franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov

Phone 703-971-6262

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Table of Contents

1. Domestic Violence Awareness & Prevention Month
2. Fire Prevention Week Open House 10/14
3. Mason Space Day 10/22
4. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day 10/28
5. Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink - Next Meeting 11/6

Out and About in Franconia

1. Fire Safety Day in Audubon Estates
2. Echo Parking Lot Groundbreaking
3. Monticello Woods Civic Association - Neighborhood Night Out

In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)

1. Venture into Volunteering Fair 10/15
2. Fort Belvoir's Retiree Appreciation Day 10/27
3. Things To Do This October in Fairfax County
4. Early Voting

Domestic violence is a family, community and public health issue with widespread ripple effects that impact all parts of our community. It will take all of us to build a peaceful and safe Fairfax County.

Did you know?

• 1 in 4 women and nearly 1 in 10 men will experience sexual violence, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner during their lives.
• More than 43 million women and 38 million men will experience psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime.



Research also shows survivors of domestic violence have significantly higher rates of long-term health problems, including diabetes, frequent headaches, chronic pain, difficulty sleeping, asthma, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

We can prevent domestic violence across our community by addressing the root causes of the problem. We can eliminate attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, environments and policies that contribute to domestic violence and promote strategies that stop it. Together, we can reduce our acceptance and tolerance of violence, and reject norms, practices and policies that place girls and women at increased risk. We can confront gender and racial injustices.

Click here for the press release and resources available in Fairfax County.

Fire Prevention Week Open House Saturday!

It's Fire Prevention Week! This year's theme is "Cooking Safety". Join Franconia Volunteer Fire Department at 6300 Beulah St, Alexandria, VA, United States, Virginia at our Open House on Saturday, October 14th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to learn more. Visit the Fire Prevention Week website for a toolkit of resources.

Mason Space Day – An ‘Out of This World’ Experience

The 2^nd Annual Mason Space Day will blast off on Sunday, October 22, 2023 from 3:00 - 9:00 p.m. on George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus. This free, family-friendly event offers an exciting and engaging opportunity to learn about the technology and science behind some of the leading aerospace projects in the area. All ages are invited to learn about the latest in space exploration from those on the front lines and explore space firsthand through a tour of Mason’s Observatory. The Honorable Charles F. Bolden, Jr., former head of NASA and former NASA astronaut who traveled into orbit four times aboard the space shuttle between 1986 and 1994, commanding two of the missions and piloting two others, will deliver a keynote address. Food trucks will be available onsite, with ample time to meet other event attendees, explore Mason’s Fairfax campus, and visit exhibitor organizations. To attend Space Day 2023, register now.

Saturday, October 28th is National Drug Take Back Day! Safely dispose of your unused or expired medications at any of the locations below between 10am and 2pm:

• Franconia District Station – 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria
• Mount Vernon District Station – 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria
• West Springfield District Station – 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield
• Sully District Station – 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly
• Tysons Emergency – 8240 Leesburg Pike, Vienna
• Mason District Station – 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale
• Reston Hospital Center – 1850 Town Center Parkway, Reston (Rear entrance of pavilion 1)
• Fair Oaks District Station – 12300 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax

This Drug Enforcement Administration initiative educates our community about the potential for abuse of prescription medications while providing a safe, convenient, and responsible means for disposing of unused and expired medication.

For more information about the Drug Take Back Initiative, click here.

Audubon Estates Fire Safety Day

We held our second Fire Safety Day at Audubon Estates Mobile Home Park in Hybla Valley this weekend. Thank you to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, American Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region, CERT, all the volunteers and Audubon residents for partnering with my office to place 432 smoke detectors in 126 homes, while offering fire safety tips and evacuation plans. 

Venture into Volunteering Fair

"The Beacon 50+ Expos" is proud to partner with the Fairfax County "Ventures into Volunteering" fair, an annual event showcasing multiple government agencies and nonprofits that offer exciting volunteer opportunities and promote an engaged lifestyle. This event will take place at Springfield Towne Center on October 15, 2023 from 12-4 pm. Click here for more info..

Things To Do This October in Fairfax County!

October is one of the most fun-filled months in Fairfax County, filled to the brim with special events, month-long celebrations, spooky Halloween activities, and absolutely stunning fall foliage drive tours and viewpoints. We don’t blame you if your calendar fills up quicker than a seven-year-old can fill his trick-or-treat bag! 

Northern Virginia has a ton of fun to offer. Here’s a guide to some of the best events, festivals, and activities happening in Fairfax County this October.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Rodney L. Lusk

Franconia District Supervisor